Sheaf-carrier



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

H. J. CASE. SHEAF CARRIER.

5 Twig. Z

VJ 1 J Y {No Model.) v 2 SheetsSheet 2.

H. J. CASE. SHEAF CARRIER.

' No. 553,053. Pate nted Jan. 14, 1896.

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UNITED STATES PATENT Orrics.

HENRY J. CASE, OF OYVASCO, ASSIGNOR TO THE JOHNSTON I-IARVESTER COMPANY, OF BATAVIA, NEXV YORK.

SHEAF-CARRIER.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 553,053, dated January 14, 1896.-

Application filed March 25, 1896. fierial No. 543,065. (No model.)

To (tZZ whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, HENRY J. Cass, a citizen of the United States, residing at Owasco, in the county of Cayugaand State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Sheaf-Carriers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to that class of sheafcarriers which are used on grain harvesting and binding machines, and which consist of laterally-projecting receiving-fingers, which are connected by upright pivots to a rocking bar arranged longitudinally on the stubb1eward side of the machine, and which are held in a substantially horizontal position for receiving the sheaves or bundles and are dropped with their outer ends to the ground by the rocking movement of the supportingbar for discharging the sheaves, and are then swung backwardly and toward the side of the machine on their individual pivots by the forward movement of the machine, and are so withdrawn from underneath the sheaves.

My invention has for its object to improve the construction and operation of this class of sheaf-carriers in various respects.

In the accompanying drawings, consisting of two sheets, Figure l is a fragmentary rear elevation of a grain-harvester provided with my improved sheaf-carrier. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the sheaf-carrier on an enlarged scale. Fig. at is a transverse section, on an enlarged scale, in line & -il, Fig. 3, looking rearward and showing the position of the parts when the carrier receives the bundles from the binder mechanism. Fig. 5 is a similar view showing the position of the parts when the carrier is dropped for discharging the bundles on the ground. Fig. 6 is a sectional front view of one of the fingers and connecting parts corresponding to Fig. 4. Fig. 7 is a similar view corresponding to Fig. 5. Fig. 8 is a fragmentary vertical section of the connection between the connecting-bar and one of the fingers.

Like letters oi reference refer to like parts in the several figures.

A represents the main frame of aharvester, B the driving-wheel, and C the inclined hinder-deck, upon which the grain is tied into bundles by any suitable and well known mechanism.

The sheaf-carrier, whereby the bundles are collected before dropping the same upon the ground, is arranged below the delivery portion of the binder-deck and constructed as follows: D represents a longitudinal rockshaft arranged horizontally underneath the delivery portion of the binder-deck and journaled with its ends in bearings (Z d on the main frame. E represents the fingers of the carrier, which are attached to this shaft and project laterally from the side of the machine. Each finger is attached to the rock-shaft by a sleeve F arranged on the rock-shaft and provided with a depending arbor f, which is embraced by an eye 6 formed on the inner end of the finger. The eye is confined on the arbor by a washer f at the lower end of the arbor, and the washer and sleeve are secured to each other and to the rock-shaft by a single bolt- 9 passing through these parts. The eye fits on the arbor sufficiently loose to permit the finger to swing not only backwardly and forwardly, but also vertically, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 4c.

H represents a supporting-loop formed on the outer side of the sleeve and supporting the finger at a short distance from the eye. This loop is provided at its front end with a depressed seat h, which receives the finger in its normal operative position at right angles to the rock-shaft and holds it in that position. The loop is also provided with a cam or incline 1' which rises rearwardly from the seat hand over which the finger rides upwardly when the finger is swung rearwardly and inwardly. In their normal operative position the fingers project horizontally and at right angles to the rock-shaft and rest in the seats h of the loops, as represented in full lines in Figs. 1, 2, 3, i and 6. When the desired number of bundles have been delivered upon the fingers the roclcshaft is turned in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 1, whereby the fingers are caused to drop with their outer ends upon the ground, as represented in dotted lines in Fig. 1. The rock-shaft is turned through a somewhat greater are than is necessary to drop the ends of the fingers upon the ground, so that when the fingers have reached the ground the loops will continue to move downwardly for a sufficient distance to disengage the fingers from the seats h of the loops. In this position of the parts the fingers stand IOO above the lower portions of the loops,.as indicated in Fig. 5 and by dotted lines in Fig. 6. During the following forward movement of the harvester the fingers trail on the ground and move inwardly or toward the rock-shaft to the position indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 3 and by full lines in Figs. 5 and 7, thereby disengaging themselves from the bundles and depositing the latter upon the ground. During this inward movement of the fingers the latter move at first horizontally above the lower portions of the loops and then comein contact with the rear portions of the loops and ride'up on the latter, or the fingers may not ride up on the rear portions of the loops at all, as this depends somewhat upon the position of each finger with reference'to its loop, which position in turn depends upon the sup.- port it finds upon the ground. Vhen the parts are inthis position and the rock shaft is turned in the proper direction to raise the fingers from the. ground, the first portion of the return movement of the rock-shaft causes the cams of the loops to swing the fingers forwardly until they engage in'the seats of the loops and stand again at right angles to the rock-shaft. The further elevating movement of the rock-shaft causes the fingers to.

- swing upwardly with the rock-shaft until they reach their normal horizontal position.

Each supporting-loop is provided in front of the finger-seat with an upright face or shoulder i which limits the forward movement of the fingers. If the fingers. strike an obstruction when in their operative. position they are turned on their pivots and folded inwardly and Meat the same time raised by riding upon the cams. Vhen the fingershave.

cleared the obstruction they ride down the cams by gravity and so return to their normal-- position automatically;

J represents-a longitudinal connecting bar whereby the-fingers are caused to move to gether, each finger being connected with the bar by an eye j, through which the finger passes and which is pivoted to the bar by a pin j. The connecting bar is held at the proper'distance from the rock-shaftby links j, which connect. the bar with'the rock-shaft. The return of the fingers to their normal posispring 70, which is secured with its ends to the connecting-bar and one. of the washers of the finger-arbors-, which washer is provided for that purpose with an opening into which the end of the spring ishooked. As the bundles slide oif from the folded fingers some of the. grain is apt to become caught in the sleeves and connecting parts on the rear portion of the rock-shaft, and in order to avoid this. the rear portion of the connectingebar is provided with a shield or guard L which prevents the grain from coming into contact with the sleeves on the adjacent portion of the rock'- shaft. 7

M represents a depending rock-arm which is secured to the rear end of the rock-shaft.

N N represent a pair of toggle-bars or retaining-links whereby the fingers are held in their operative position. These bars are pivoted to each other by a pin it, while their opposite ends are pivoted, respectively, to the free end of the rock-arm M and to a standard n arranged on the main frame. The inner end of the outer bar, N, projects beyond the pivot connecting the bars and is provided near the drivers seat with a foot-piece n Upon depressing the bars the latter are straightenedand the rock-arm is turned so as to bringthe fingers into their operative position.

0 represents a stop which is formed on the inner toggle-bar, N, and arrests thedown- .ward movement of the bars when the latter have been depressed to their locking position in whichthey hold the fingers in their normal horizontal position. The toggle-barsiare unlocked for dumping. the bundlesby lifting th e foot-piece of theouterbar by the foot.

' P represents a stop which is'formed on the outer end of theoutertoggle-ba-r, N, and which projects upwardly on the outer side of the rock-shaft. As the toggle-barsare raised the outer bar moves inwardly until this stop strikes against the rock-shaft and so prevents the further turning. of the rock-shaft in the direction in which the fingers are lowered. This stop is soarranged that it prevents the downward movement of the fingers below a certain position and so: prevents the fingers from dropping intoabnormal depressions in the ground and becoming injiired thereby.

I claim as my invention- 1. In a. sheafcarrier, the combination with a rock' shaft, of a downwardly projecting arbor, a cam orloopprojecting outwardly from said shaft, and acarrying finger passing over said cam on loop and provided on its. inner end with an eyeiby which the finger is loosely attached to. said arbor, substantially as set forth.

2. In a sheaf carrier, thecombination with a rock shaft and the carrying fingers. pivoted thereto,.of a bar connecting. said fingers and I a guard'or shield secured to. the rear fingers outside of their pivots, substantially as set forth.

tion is preferably facilitated by means of a 3-. Ina sheaf carrier, the combination with the main frame 5 a rock shaft journ aled on the 1 main frame and provided with a rock arm and carrying fingers connected with said shaft, of

locking toggle. bars connecting said rock arm with the main frame, and a stop formed on the outer toggle bar and adapted to strike against the rock shaft and limit the downward movement of the fingers, substantially as set forth.

Witness my hand this 21st day of Marcln 1895.

HENRY J. CASE.

\Vitnesses:

J. T. WHrrooMB, GEO. A. PEARSALL. 

